I watched with horror the assault on the LetJulieSwim supporters at Pope Marine Park on Monday afternoon, evidently by supporters of transgender people.

Their behavior proved the LetJulieSwim movement point: women and girls need protection from people like this, especially in vulnerable settings like restrooms and changing rooms.

I watched one very masculine man with large muscles, stocky body, tattoos, and black clothing harass and intimidate the people trying to make their presentation. Whether he was a woman on the inside or not is irrelevant. He is a bully. These bullies were pushing those trying to gather and make a presentation and forcing them up against a wall.

Some women fell down. They were trying to unplug the microphone to silence these women. Others were riding their bikes through the gathering waving pride flags and making noise to drown out these poor people. The police were in the background doing NOTHING to protect these unarmed and peaceful LetJulieSwim supporters.

Transgender people should be horrified by this damaging behaviour.

What a travesty and disgrace that the city is on board with discriminating against women who just want to be and feel safe from men. History up to current day clearly establishes a pattern of violence against women by men. The transgender community/supporters on Monday made it clear that this is OK with them. It is NOT.

Andrea Fontenot Hegland
PORT TOWNSEND